Party chief To Lam attends ceremony establishing new Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam's Party chief To Lam on Monday morning attended a ceremony to announce the formation of the new Ho Chi Minh City, following its historic merger with Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces.

The ceremony, hosted by municipal authorities in HCMC, marks a historic moment in Vietnam’s nationwide effort to streamline administrative structures and enhance governance.

Speaking at the event, Lam urged leaders and citizens of the newly merged city to unite with discipline, innovation, and resolve to drive development.

“This is both a challenge and a historic opportunity,” the Party General Secretary said. “Success must come not just from resolutions, but from public consensus, strong leadership, and committed action.”

He called on newly appointed leaders to uphold integrity, listen to the people, and always prioritize national and public interests.

“As we enter a new phase of development, we carry not only pride but a deep responsibility to the nation and future generations,” he said.

At the ceremony, Nguyen Quang Duong, deputy head of the Party Central Organization Commission, announced the Politburo’s decision to appoint the new HCMC Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

The committee consists of 107 members, including 36 from Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 32 from Binh Duong, and 39 from HCMC. The Standing Committee has 27 members. Nguyen Van Nen was reappointed as Party Secretary.

Key leadership appointments include: Nguyen Thanh Nghi as Standing Deputy Secretary; Nguyen Van Duoc as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Committee; Vo Van Minh as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Council; Nguyen Phuoc Loc as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee.

The new HCMC now spans more than 6,722 square kilometres and has a population of over 14 million. It comprises 168 commune-level administrative units, including 113 wards, 54 communes, and one special zone - Con Dao.

The largest communes by area include Phu Giao (192.83 square kilometers), Dau Tieng (182.68 sq. km), and Long Hoa (166.76 sq.km).

The most populous wards are Di An (227,817 residents), Hiep Binh (215,638), and Tang Nhon Phu (208,233).

Similar ceremonies were held across provinces and cities nationwide on the same day.

On June 12, the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislature, passed a resolution that reduces the country's number of provinces and cities from 63 to 34, effective immediately.

Eleven provinces and cities that are not subject to any merger are Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Tinh, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Nghe An, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Hanoi, and Hue.

Ho Chi Minh City will become "a global megacity of Southeast Asia" after its meger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, Party chief To Lam told key Party leaders of the three localities at a meeting on June 18.

"The merger of HCMC with Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Duong marks an unprecedented pivotal transformation in Vietnam's urban development history. This is a comprehensive reconfiguration of development space, where the country's three most dynamic economic poles converge to form a megacity of finance, industry and seaports," he added.

HCMC, Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau are all industrial centers in southern Vietnam.

Vietnam will build one international financial center located in both Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, in which initiatives like digital assets and sandboxes will be tested under control, according to a newly-approved parliament resolution.

The resolution, passed by the National Assembly on June 27 with over 93.5% votes in favor, will come into force on September 1.

The international financial center section in HCMC will house capital markets, banks, currency markets, testing mechanisms (sandboxes) on fintech, innovation in the financial sector, specialized trading floors, and new trading platforms.

The Danang section will develop green finance, apply financial technology, and promote digital services. The city will also test digital assets and digital currencies under control; promote payments; and attract investment funds, remittance funds, and small and medium-sized fund management companies.